Game Preview - Iowa Wild at Charlotte Checkers 10.19
Oct 19, 2013Iowa Wild (1-1-0-0, 2 points) at Charlotte Checkers (2-0-0-0, 4 points)
The Iowa Wild embarks on the first road trip in the team’s short history, starting on Saturday night in Charlotte. The two-game set concludes on Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Arena. Saturday marks the first of four meetings between the two clubs. The Checkers will visit the Wild on Mar. 25 and Mar. 26 at Wells Fargo Arena. The Wild opened its season at home last weekend, splitting a pair of games with the Oklahoma City Barons. After Iowa took the first game 1-0, Oklahoma City countered with a 4-2 victory on Sunday. The Checkers opened their season on the road in Oklahoma City on Oct. 4 and 5. The Checkers swept the two-game set with a pair of 3-2 victories at the Cox Convention Center. The Checkers will begin their home schedule this weekend with the Wild.
Minnesota's AHL Affiliate was in Houston for the 2012-13 season, going 40-26-5-5 (90 points / .592 %). The Aeros met the Checkers eight times last season, going 3-2-1-2. Over the last five years, Houston was 6-2-1-2 all-time against Charlotte, including a 2-1-0-3 mark on the road.
Upcoming Games:
Team Date Time Radio / TV
at Charlotte 10/19 6:05 PM (CT) KXNO 1460 – iHeart Radio
at Charlotte 10/20 12:30 PM (CT) KXNO 1460 – iHeart Radio
vs Chicago 10/24 7:05 PM KXNO 1460 – iHeart Radio
Latest Transactions:
10/19 – Delete goaltender John Curry (assigned to Orlando – ECHL)
10/18 – Add goaltender Darcy Kuemper (assigned by Minnesota – NHL)
10/16 – Delete defenseman Carl Sneep (released from PTO – heading to Idaho - ECHL)
Last Time Out:
The Iowa Wild were defeated by the Oklahoma City Barons 4-2 in front of 4,217 fans on Sunday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Barons Ryan Jones and Anton Lander scored power-play goals 46 seconds apart in the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie and pushing Oklahoma City in front for good. Barons forwards Derek Nesbitt and Andrew Miller each had three points to help Oklahoma City pick up the team's first win of the season. Oklahoma City goalie Olivier Roy stopped 28 shots for the win. Iowa goalie Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves in the defeat. Wild forwards David Steckel and Brett Bulmer each had a goal in the defeat.
Iowa Wild
The Wild returns 12 players from the 2012-13 squad that took the ice in Houston last year. The roster includes six rookies, eight veterans and 11 Minnesota Wild draft picks. Overall, 18 of the 23 players on the roster are NHL draft picks. After two games played, forwards Brett Bulmer, Chad Rau and Jason Zucker are tied for the team lead in scoring with two points each. Bulmer has a goal in both games, while Zucker and Rau have picked up an assist in each game. Center Dave Steckel also has a goal on the short season.
Goalies Johan Gustafsson and Darcy Kuemper man the nets for Iowa. Kuemper has seen action in both Minnesota and Iowa. He started last Sunday at home against Oklahoma City, falling 4-2 with 28 saves. Gustafsson, a rookie, made his North American debut last Saturday, stopping 27 shots for his first AHL victory and his first AHL shutout. Head Coach Kurt Kleinendorst leads the Wild in its first season.
Zucker Out
The American Hockey League announced on Monday that Wild forward Jason Zucker is suspended for the weekend set in Charlotte. The second-year forward was given a match penalty for a hit to the head in Sunday’s loss at home to Oklahoma City. He is eligible to return to the Wild lineup on Oct. 24 at home against Chicago.
Charlotte Checkers
The Checkers return 15 players from the 2012-13 team, which posted a 42-26-4-4 record. The AHL Affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by Oklahoma City in spring of 2013.
After two games of action, forward Aaron Palushaj leads Charlotte in scoring with a goal and two assists for three points. Veteran defenseman Mark Flood leads the team with two goals and is tied for second in scoring with two points. Forwards Chris Terry and Zach Boychuk are also among the team leaders with two points off a goal and an assist each.
Goalies Justin Peters and Mike Murphy each were able to start a game against Oklahoma City. Peters stopped 32 of 34 for the win. He is currently on recall to the Carolina Hurricanes. Murphy stopped 22 of 24 in his victory at Oklahoma City.